ST. LOUIS — The end of November marked an 86% increase in reported car thefts in St. Louis City compared to the same time last year.

What You Need To Know

  • The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department told Spectrum News there were 6,723 motor vehicle thefts reported through November compared to 3,606 reported through November of 2021

  • The city of St. Louis has said that the rise in Hyundai and Kia car thefts over the past several months have been a driving factor in the overall uptick in motor vehicle thefts

  • While the city has threatened legal action to force vehicle recalls, the automakers have steadfastly maintained that the vehicles meet or exceed safety standards 

  • The two automakers have released prevention devices for current owners of the older vehicle models to help combat thefts

That’s according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department which told Spectrum News there were 6,723 motor vehicle thefts reported through November compared to 3,606 reported through November of 2021.

The city of St. Louis has said that the rise in Hyundai and Kia car thefts over the past several months have been a driving factor in the overall uptick in motor vehicle thefts.

The Hyundai and Kia car thefts have been taking place nationwide as viral social media videos show how to break into older models of the vehicles due to security flaws and a viral TikTok challenge that is associated with the thefts.

St. Louis police received 297 reports of stolen Hyundai and Kia vehicles within the first six months of this year. From June through July 13, the total number jumped to 669 thefts.

Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 13, police said there were a total of 356 thefts or attempted thefts of Hyundais and Kias that were reported. That number accounts for 77% of the total number of vehicles stolen during that time period.

The two automakers have released prevention devices for current owners of the older vehicle models to help combat thefts. 

While the city has threatened legal action to force vehicle recalls, the automakers have steadfastly maintained that the vehicles meet or exceed safety standards. They have blamed social media and thieves for St. Louis car crimes and not their vehicles. 

St. Louis City officials have released tactics that residents can do to help prevent car thefts.

Below are the tactics as announced by the city:

  • Park vehicles in a well-lit location
  • Never park in dark alleys or areas without good visibility
  • Remove all personal items from inside vehicles or store them in the trunk out view
  • Turn off the ignition, remove the key or key fob and lock all doors when getting out of the vehicle at any location
  • Consider using a Car Club to prevent thieves from taking the vehicle, which can be purchased from the City of St. Louis Citizens Service Bureau and Collector of Revenue Office
  • Never leave vehicles unattended to “warm” them up
  • Never leave children unattended inside vehicles for any reason at any place, including while shopping